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Tag: the wizard of oz

Nathan

Brains, Heart, Courage

Daily Post

It’s not the first time I’ve written a post inspired by The Wizard of Oz…

Remember that Dorothy and her friends already had what they needed.

The Wizard tells them he can help if they do something for him. The Scarecrow will have his brains, the Tin Man a heart, the Lion will have courage and Dorothy will find a way home – but only if they face the Wicked Witch.

They already had everything they were looking for though, they just felt that they didn’t. They felt lacking or had the wrong impression of what something meant. Perhaps the Wizard could have told them but would they have believed unless they had been given the opportunity?

 

Brains, heart and courage are all needed for the viva. By the time you get to submission you have all three but like Dorothy’s companions you might not feel that way.

The thing that you might be missing is confidence. Impostor syndrome or doubts could make you think you don’t know enough, you’re not strong enough or even that you’re too worried. Confidence can help and confidence is something that you can find.

You don’t need to face a Wicked Witch to find it! And you don’t need to face a Wicked Witch at your viva to succeed.

Continue to exercise your brains. Do the work and listen to what your heart (or your feelings!) are telling you. Have courage to face the things that seem like problems. When you do, then you’ll find confidence for your viva.

Nathan

The Wizards

Daily Post

I wasn’t a fan of The Wizard of Oz when I was a child.

At the time it had too many songs for my taste and not enough lightsabers or spaceships, but as I’ve got older I’ve come to appreciate it a lot more. Now I can see the work that must have been done at the time to make the film come together – the vision, the talent, and all at a time when movies were still working out how anything worked at all.

When Dorothy and her friends initially visit the Wizard they are in awe. He is a great floating head, the ground shakes when he speaks, fire roars up whenever he is angry. He is terrifying until it is revealed, by accident, that he is just a man. A clever individual, stood behind a curtain, controlling various machines to produce the effect of someone grand and powerful.

It’s worth remembering that for your viva, there are two Wizards present – at least, they may seem that way in your imaginings.

Either one of your examiners might seem mighty or intimidating. You could read their publications and wonder at how someone could do what they have done. Or you could feel small next to their experience and careers.

Pull back the curtain.

Your examiners are just people. Clever, talented people, but still human. Whatever their achievements they’re humans who know that something like the viva might be uncomfortable for some. They’ll be fair. They’ll treat you and your work with respect.

Of course, there’s a third Wizard in your viva – but you don’t need a curtain to hide behind. You don’t need tricks to magnify yourself.

Your talent is enough. Your knowledge is enough. You have done enough.

Nathan

Behind The Curtain

Daily Post

In The Wizard Of Oz, Dorothy’s friends all thought they were missing something.

The Scarecrow didn’t have a brain, the Tin Man lacked a heart and the Lion had no courage. Dorothy takes them to see the Wizard, thinking that a great and powerful man like him will be able to give them the qualities they lack. Ultimately though, he shows them there is nothing he can give that they didn’t already have. All he gives them are symbols that recognise what was there.

Those qualities were there because they had the opportunity to show them through their adventures. They had to do something to demonstrate their intelligence, their love, their bravery, but after years of doubt they couldn’t see they had those qualities. They had to have the symbol and someone to point it out to them.

There are two Wizards in your viva. They can’t magically give you a PhD. Their questions give you the opportunity to demonstrate what you can do, something that you’ve been doing for a long time.

The curtain is pulled back and the truth is there. There’s no magic, but that’s no problem. You already have everything you need.